Why do you keep doing what you don't want to do?

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The exact cause of an addiction is not clear, but the contributions of years of studies have helped researchers identify its link to other addictive behaviours, such as alcohol, drugs, sex, and smoking. And shopaholism (also known as oniomania or compulsive buying) is considered an addiction by some because it has many similarities to these other well-established addictions, where many of the same parts of the brain are activated and a similar experience of euphoria is felt. Just as alcohol is the abused substance in alcoholism, money is the abused substance in a shopping addiction.

Research tells us that people who suffer from addiction get a rush of dopamine (a chemical in the brain that is associated with pleasure and reward) when they are able to satisfy a craving such as going on a shopping binge. With time, they become dependent on the "rush." But inevitably after the immediate gratification of a great purchase comes the pangs of guilt, shame, and disappointment. This becomes an ongoing cycle that makes you feel powerless and out of control.

But shopaholism is more than the loss of willpower or self control – it is also a behavioural problem that may be traced back to your upbringing. Studies show that shopaholics may have learned such behaviours at home or may have experienced abuse in their early years, such as sexual abuse. And more often than not, a shopping addiction has a greater likelihood of being accompanied by at least one other addiction (e.g., substance use) or disorder (i.e., anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, impulse, mood (e.g., depression)).

An addiction to shopping can also be traced to the impact of your environment. North Americans are overexposed to marketing and advertising gimmicks that encourage and promote a shopping and materialistic lifestyle, and shopping has become a major pastime and way of life. It is reported that people start developing an unhealthy habit of excessive shopping in their late teens and early 20s, when they move away from home and experience freedom and get their own credit cards, generating large debts at a young age.

And with the widespread use of the internet, people of all ages – especially the internet-savvy generation – are getting online to satisfy their shopping fix. Personal blogs are not just an online journal but personal e-boutiques. People buy and sell their stash through sites like Craigslist and ebay. The internet has made it easier to shop. While this does not necessarily lead to or cause a shopping addiction, it does make it harder for someone with a penchant for shopping to kick the habit or to rein in their spending.

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Prices shown in the e-flyers reflect regional pricing. Stores may sell for less. Product availability may vary by store. Please contact your nearest store for availability and quantity limitations. Shoppers Drug Mart (Pharmaprix in Quebec) has updated its privacy policy to include its new retail store, Wellwise™, and to reflect the recent amendments to Canada's Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act pertaining to the sharing of personal information in the context of a business transaction. The new privacy policy is effective November 1, 2017.